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REPORTER KILLED

Costa Rican authorities are investigating the motive behind the murder of reporter Ivannia Mora Rodríguez, who was shot and killed on 23 December, 2003, while driving her car in the town of Curridabat, report the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Mora was shot at close range by two unidentified men on motorcycle, who fled the scene. She died on the way to hospital. A colleague who was a passenger in her car survived the shooting and said it was not a robbery attempt. Authorities arrested a man on 25 December 2003 and are investigating whether Mora received threats prior to her death, IAPA notes.

Mora, 33, was a financial reporter and wrote for several Costa Rican publications. She had recently been working for "Summa," a magazine published by a credit card company.